Antonia Nicholson

Antonia Nicholson is the Principal Bassoon of the Band of the Royal Air Force College, and of the Nottingham Philharmonic Orchestra. After studying at the Royal College of Music Junior Department, she undertook degree studies at the Royal Northern College of Music with Ed Warren. Antonia performed and recorded extensively with the renowned RNCM Wind Orchestra. She was also Principal Bassoon with the European Youth Wind Orchestra.

Following graduation, she spent two years playing principal with the Bulawayo Philharmonic Orchestra before returning to the UK to pursue a freelance career combined with teaching. Since joining the Royal Air Force as a full-time musician in 2019, Antonia has performed at numerous Royal and ceremonial occasions, and toured to Cyprus, Germany, and Italy.

Antonia has recently developed an interest in composition, studying with Kit Turnbull. Antonia’s first two works A Christmas Wedding and Hex, are inspired by her love of Early Music and madrigals – both the tunes and the stories they tell – and were premiered by the Band of the RAF College and the Central Band of the RAF. Her third work, The Lost Valley, uses original themes and depicts the beauty of the Scottish Highlands